lululemon

Who we are: 

lululemon is an innovative performance apparel and footwear company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. In particular, that includes creating an equitable, inclusive and growth-focused environment for our people.

About this team:

Lululemon has big plans to disrupt the footwear market. To do so we need a worldclass LLO (lululemon liaison office) in Vietnam, which contains the majority of our production. The LLO is the front-line of the footwear Supply Chain, Development and Quality roles. Product creation is key to our success, but if we can’t deliver world-class product on-time to the right place then it is all for not. The Footwear Production Planning Manger role is a central figure in this effort. They are the liaison between HQ and factory in regards to capacity planning, POs, tooling amortization.

We need strong communicators who value and develop their cross functional relationships. This is a team of high performers who are constantly striving to develop personally and professionally, practicing open feedback in a trusting space. This team knows how to bring fun into their everyday, prioritising team connection and enjoying creative sessions together.

A day in the life: 

The Footwear Production Planning Manager is a key partner in the supply chain. A true liaison between factories and the SSC Sourcing and Planning teams. This role will manage a team of Production Analysts that are responsible for a wide range of topics- from capacity planning, PO tracking, packaging, on-time delivery, debit notes, and tooling amortization. They will negotiate lead-times and cost with factories and material vendors. It is imperative this person be intimately familiar with each of the tasks and responsibilities listed below to ensure on-time delivery of the right product to the right place for the right price. 

Production PO Management

• Conduct 3-way match to ensure delivery accuracy between PO, Invoice and shipping documentation in E2Open and GTN systems

• Validate PO cost, delivery, region and other data in E2Open system

• Track on-time delivery and work with teams to improve when needed

• Manage PO change requests (POC) in the E2Open system to ensure accurate delivery and cost information

• Manage minimum order quantity (MOQ) process to ensure factories are running efficiently and being compensated appropriately for inefficiencies driven by small buy quantities.

• Conduct E2Open PO system training for new factories

Materials

• Assist SSC tracking and reporting material vendor data

• Facilitate vendor NDNA submission

• Negotiate MOQ, lead time and costing to support a quick-to-market and cost-effective product line

• Facilitate NVAP onboarding process

Logistics & Delivery

• Validate delivery vessels are booked timely to avoid delays

• Report on-time delivery from factories and facilitate corrective action plans when necessary

Packaging

• Ensure accurate label data is reflected in multiple systems and passes correctly to label producer.

• Troubleshoot label data and delivery issues 

• Facilitate packaging requirements between factories and SSC Label & Packaging teams

Forecast & Capacity Management 

• Submit monthly forecast to T1 partners 

• Split forecast by T1 material vendors factoring consumption to achieve a material and color forecast

• Conduct capacity planning exercises of future forecast to ensure adequate factory capacity levels to ensure on-time delivery

Tooling

• Track tooling amortization schedules against seasonal buy quantities to ensure PO FOB is accurate

• Maintain tooling inventory and conduct tooling capacity planning with each new monthly forecast 

• Manage tooling inventory database

• Validate requests for additional tooling by conducting tooling capacity and on-time delivery analysis Other

• Ensure timely payment of debit notes by collaborating between factories and SSC Sourcing Mgr

Other

• Work with T1 and T2 vendors to ensure export licenses are updated and avoid delays

• Support legal and sustainability teams on ad hoc basis with factory and material data needs

• Facilitate the New Vendor Approval Process (NVAP) ensuring new vendors are approved and meet lululemon high standards.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related discipline or equivalent professional experience; 

• 7-10 years minimum footwear industry experience, preferably with diverse background in materials, product development and planning

• Proficiency in MS office (Excel/Word/Outlook), Adobe Design Suite (Illustrator and Photoshop)

• Attention to detail, initiative, organization, strong verbal & written communication skills

• Ability to manage multiple tasks & competing priorities

• Working knowledge of footwear construction and manufacturing

• Proficient at communication and negotiation with factories and vendors to achieve common and often contradictory goals

• Strong applied comprehension of end-to-end product life cycle

• Self-motivated, strong sense of urgency, collaborative mindset

• Ability to work and thrive in a fast paced, cross functional team environment

• Excellent time management, organizational & problem-solving skills

• Curiosity for change & learning, capable of managing ambiguity

Must haves:

• Acknowledges the presence of choice in every moment and takes personal responsibility for their life.

• Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovates to achieve great results. 

• Communicates with honesty and kindness, and creates the space for others to do the same. 

• Leads with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure. 

• Fosters connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships. 

• Integrates fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn’t take themselves too seriously.